How Can a Forklift Seatbelt Keep Forklift Drivers and those Around Them Safe

Wearing a seatbelt has become common practice when driving a car. It is a way to stay safe in a moving vehicle regardless if the vehicle gets into an accident or not. The same argument holds true when it comes to operating a forklift. The forklift seatbelt is just as important. One of the more critical reasons for the forklift seatbelt is to reduce the risk of the operator being crushed or pinned. What are the rules and how can the forklift seatbelt be enforced? Let’s take a look.

What is the Standard for Forklift Seatbelt?

Prior to 1992, OSHA did not have a regulation to wearing seat belts. Then in 1992 the ASME B56.1-1993 required that, “powered industrial trucks manufactured after 1992 must have a restraint device system, or enclosure that is intended to assist the operator in reducing the risk of entrapment of the operator’s head and/or torso between the truck and ground in the event of a tipover.” OSHA decided to enforce this standard under Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act. As many of us know, there are plenty of drivers working each day without a forklift seatbelt. Many of the reasons include, ‘I get in/out of the forklift often”, “It doesn’t help anyway”, or “Management is just trying to find a way for me to mess up.”

Forklift Seatbelt Safety

Regardless of their reasons, seatbelts are the easiest way for drivers to stay safe. If you are in the forklift and the forklift is moving…or not, the forklift seatbelt will keep you inside of the lift truck.

• Forklifts are most times, open on all four sides. The forklift seatbelt keeps you situated in one place.
• With any jolt or hard stop of the forklift, the tendency is for the human body to go forward. Without a forklift seatbelt, the body can hit the load, if the forklift is carrying one at the time, or the body can go through the open space potentially hitting the steel part(s) of the forklift causing injury.
• Forklifts need a flat surface. If the forklift hits a pot hole or comes too close to the edge and the forklift tilts, the forklift seatbelt keeps the person in the moving lift truck.

How Can a Forklift Safety System Help?

Safety professionals and plant managers want the forklift seatbelt enforced. We couldn’t agree more, that’s why SIERA.AI has made forklift seatbelt as part of the forklift access control feature. This is a very easy explanation for the forklift seatbelt. Here it is…

No Wear…No Go.

If the seatbelt is not worn, the forklift will not start. Once the forklift driver completes the forklift inspection, the driver will be required to fasten the seat belt in order to initiate the forklift to start.

Simple Safety Rule

As car drivers, we all got use to driving with the seatbelt on. Even if we stop numerous times doing chores, each time we get in the car we made it a habit to put our seatbelt on. This is no different in order to keep the forklift driver and those around safe. SIERA.AI continues to implement new safety features in our S2 Digital Inspection with Impact Detection forklift safety system. Contact us today to begin your safety journey at sales@siera.ai.